he healed the sick
he dined with the least of these
he loved and he forgave
he served and he taught
he prayed unceasingly
his name is jesus
he was a real and perfect man
he carried a tree
he wore a crown of thorns
he bled and he suffered
his scars bore our sins
his name is jesus
there were nails driven into his hands
he hung on a cross
he called out to his heavenly father
he breathed his last breath
he sacrificed his life for us
his name is jesus
his mother cried for him
the sky opened for him
he rose from the grave
he lives in heaven
he will come again to earth
his name is jesus
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
catalyst
on August 23, 2010, i started a journey to intentionally lose weight, eat "better", and be more active. after the first 2 months, i reached a wall... having lost about 10 pounds but wanting to lose more, i begin to be conscious of my bread intake (i LOVE bread!). so, i did that for the whole month of November, and that minor change in my diet really helped "reactivate" my weight loss. during the whole first 6 months, i lost 20 pounds. in February, though, i reached a plateau. my weight loss fluctuated, for the next 3 months, between 20-25 pounds.
in may, i started doing the 3-2-1 program designed by Slim Fast. the program was easy to keep track of: three 100 calorie snacks, two Slim Fast shakes, and one 500 calorie balanced meal... along with a suggested intake of 8 cups of water... each day. i rocked on the water part, could do the snacking and shakes, but struggled when it came to a "balanced" meal. for one, it is plain difficult to cook a meal for one person. it's easy, but it almost seems like a waste of time to spend more time preparing and cooking the meal than it does to eat it. so that is just frustrating. and for two, buying and finishing "balanced meal" foods before their expiration date is a difficult task for one person as well. i kept up with Slim Fast for 2 weeks.
in regards to being active, i went to the gym a few times a month, went on walk-runs with friends often, did a few sessions of yoga (which i loved!), and obviously walked to all my classes August through May. once the weather got really nice in May, i walked-ran a few miles almost every day... for a week.
it is now the middle of June.
and i have simply maintained my weight loss of 20 pounds.
some weeks are better than others in regards to how i feel. sometimes i feel discouraged and as if i am in some sort of slump. i still (for the most part) am conscious about what i eat and really only ever drink water. most times, though, i feel good. i feel better than i once did, but not as good as i know i one day will feel. i am grateful that i am healthy but i have a strong desire to be more fit.
but although i have this desire, i am realizing that i never really took this whole weight loss journey to the Lord in prayer. He has surely given me a great success already, but usually starting every week off with the intention to do everything in my power to continue to lose weight, but not seeing results, is proving to not be very effective.
today was Peoria's annual Steamboat Race and over 5000 people participated. i stood with friends right before the finish line and watched as hundreds of runners made their way through. i am sure they felt so accomplished! you could see triumph on their faces and their strides were so heartfelt and they were determined! i yearn for that- the feeling of great triumph, taking heartfelt strides, and being determined- in my journey of losing weight, eating "better, and being more active.
so, racers, vibe, and concept of Steamboat, you are a catalyst in this journey to keep me keepin' on. i feel a transformation of thought taking place in my mind that as much as this is a desire of mine, it is a journey i must take along with the Lord... through his strength and through prayer that is intentional. i feel that i have accomplished something, but i know that i am to accomplish more.
this is just the beginning of a forever lifestyle.
in may, i started doing the 3-2-1 program designed by Slim Fast. the program was easy to keep track of: three 100 calorie snacks, two Slim Fast shakes, and one 500 calorie balanced meal... along with a suggested intake of 8 cups of water... each day. i rocked on the water part, could do the snacking and shakes, but struggled when it came to a "balanced" meal. for one, it is plain difficult to cook a meal for one person. it's easy, but it almost seems like a waste of time to spend more time preparing and cooking the meal than it does to eat it. so that is just frustrating. and for two, buying and finishing "balanced meal" foods before their expiration date is a difficult task for one person as well. i kept up with Slim Fast for 2 weeks.
in regards to being active, i went to the gym a few times a month, went on walk-runs with friends often, did a few sessions of yoga (which i loved!), and obviously walked to all my classes August through May. once the weather got really nice in May, i walked-ran a few miles almost every day... for a week.
it is now the middle of June.
and i have simply maintained my weight loss of 20 pounds.
some weeks are better than others in regards to how i feel. sometimes i feel discouraged and as if i am in some sort of slump. i still (for the most part) am conscious about what i eat and really only ever drink water. most times, though, i feel good. i feel better than i once did, but not as good as i know i one day will feel. i am grateful that i am healthy but i have a strong desire to be more fit.
but although i have this desire, i am realizing that i never really took this whole weight loss journey to the Lord in prayer. He has surely given me a great success already, but usually starting every week off with the intention to do everything in my power to continue to lose weight, but not seeing results, is proving to not be very effective.
today was Peoria's annual Steamboat Race and over 5000 people participated. i stood with friends right before the finish line and watched as hundreds of runners made their way through. i am sure they felt so accomplished! you could see triumph on their faces and their strides were so heartfelt and they were determined! i yearn for that- the feeling of great triumph, taking heartfelt strides, and being determined- in my journey of losing weight, eating "better, and being more active.
so, racers, vibe, and concept of Steamboat, you are a catalyst in this journey to keep me keepin' on. i feel a transformation of thought taking place in my mind that as much as this is a desire of mine, it is a journey i must take along with the Lord... through his strength and through prayer that is intentional. i feel that i have accomplished something, but i know that i am to accomplish more.
this is just the beginning of a forever lifestyle.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
a weekend for camping!
i did a little "campkeeping"... like mowing the grass with my favorite mower! and madee did a little early "meal prepping"... like cooking a hotdog over the fire!
let the games begin- a little beanbag toss (not pictured) and hillbilly golf!
after several rounds, getting those balls stuck in the tree branches, trimming the trees, and nearly knocking people out with the crazy bouncy-ness of the balls, we took a break for lunch... complete with brownies that we had to keep "trying" to make sure they all were good.
getting ready to head to the pool to soak up a little afternoon sun!
so relaxing.
so fun.
abbey and molly, sisters.
sarah and julie, cousins.
poolside birdwatching.
sweet bella hanging out.
our afternoon round of games- things. one of the funnest games you could play with a group of friends or family or people you don't even know! you'll learn a lot about everyone... like what they think someone shouldn't do on their honeymoon, what they'd do if they were invisible, what makes them most uncomfortable, etc.
abbey and aunt jill making dinner.
ben putting on bug spray... this way is pretty efficient.
taking an early evening hike through the woods!
we have a fun family :)
and i have a really great brother...
who can do a heel click!
we walked the whole trail, saw the river, and were ready for a good and filling "camp" dinner... grilled chicken breasts, roasted vegetables, and death by chocolate cake would surely suffice.
thank you aunt jill for opening up your "home" to us! we think you're great!
and for you, Lost Arrow, you were fun. we'll see ya next year for the 2nd annual cousins' camping weekend! and just know, there will be more of us then!
Friday, June 10, 2011
filled
in the past few weeks, i've been filled with...
- encouragement and inspiration from talks about leadership and life with wise friends
- knowledge from a late night bible study with a sweet friend and her husband
- wonder and happiness from getting to witness 2 beautiful weddings
- a new kind of boldness while learning about mary, the mother of jesus
- awe in learning the stories of "regular" people who are living so sacrificially
- love as i discover how much jesus truly loves relationship
- hope and excitement from getting new perspectives
and this is what i'm feeling:
- my heart beating so quick in my chest
- my mind, so full and spinning
- a desire to play in open fields
- the longing to be in another country, if just for a short while
- excitement from my dreams... the middle of the night and the middle of the day ones
- blessed
- curious
i am feeling pulled from many angles... in a good and exciting way. but deciding which way to go, to choose, to follow in brings me to a place of constantly praying for clarity and direction and wisdom and discernment. but this life is exciting and i'm grateful that i'm being filled with so many good things!
"i know i'm filled to be emptied again, the seed i've received i will sow..." - Hillsong
- encouragement and inspiration from talks about leadership and life with wise friends
- knowledge from a late night bible study with a sweet friend and her husband
- wonder and happiness from getting to witness 2 beautiful weddings
- a new kind of boldness while learning about mary, the mother of jesus
- awe in learning the stories of "regular" people who are living so sacrificially
- love as i discover how much jesus truly loves relationship
- hope and excitement from getting new perspectives
and this is what i'm feeling:
- my heart beating so quick in my chest
- my mind, so full and spinning
- a desire to play in open fields
- the longing to be in another country, if just for a short while
- excitement from my dreams... the middle of the night and the middle of the day ones
- blessed
- curious
i am feeling pulled from many angles... in a good and exciting way. but deciding which way to go, to choose, to follow in brings me to a place of constantly praying for clarity and direction and wisdom and discernment. but this life is exciting and i'm grateful that i'm being filled with so many good things!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)